CareCredit continues to bring together leading clinicians to share what is working in today’s evolving practice environment. Here, providers from different healthcare fields share how Artificial intelligence (AI) adoption is quickly accelerating, helping their teams streamline routine tasks so they can focus more on delivering an exceptional patient experience.
Q: How are you using AI in your practice today?
Melissa Rose, AuD: The main way we definitely use AI in the practice is we are using the transcribe option through our office management system. It records and transcribes the conversation and automatically pulls the patient history and notes into a structured report. It took me one minute to generate this beautiful report to send to the referring doctor just as soon as an appointment is over. It seemed going that extra mile was appreciated because we are getting more referrals, even from doctors that never referred to us.
Brian Harris, DDS: One way we are using AI is within existing software. I think that is the most basic form of AI, whether it is confirmation calls or confirmation emails. The area where it is really starting to explode is in the area of AI agents. At our practice, patients who reach out get an email response from our AI agent, which is written as if it were a human.
Ryan Beck, OD: AI has definitely been a boon for the practice in optimizing our workflow. We started off pretty simply using AI to help us with prior authorizations. We input the patient assessment and treatment plan and the system generates the appropriate responses and form letters in seconds so we can move on to the next task.
Q: What has technology or AI changed in your day-to-day workflow?
Rose: One of the ways we’ve found to move more patients into hearing health is through the CareCredit integration in our software. Now financial conversations are easier because our team can see who on the daily schedule has a CareCredit credit card or has been preapproved. It streamlines the cost conversation and makes it easier for the patient.
Harris: AI enables our office manager to do their primary job, which is to motivate and encourage the team, focus on the culture and deliver an exceptional patient experience. It lets the busy work stuff be managed more specifically by AI agents.
Beck: When I use a scribe software during my patient interactions it leaves my hands free to be able to interact with the patient, to be present and focused on building relationships.
Q: Where did your practice start with technology and AI?
Rose: We started by talking to other people that use it. We have access to so many audiologists on social media and it’s very powerful to hear from colleagues what’s worked for them.
Harris: The fastest way our team gained confidence was to use a simple AI system for a very basic task. The team quickly understood that AI is not replacing people; it’s providing them the time and opportunity to focus on the delivery of care.
Beck: Obviously before adopting any AI or technology we make sure that it is HIPAA compliant. We came from the perspective that AI systems are not doctors. We use AI but only as a tool. We review and ensure that the output is aligned with your own knowledge, your notes, goals and findings.
Rose: We found every single thing that becomes AI automated just helps us gain back time. I can see more patients and I can spend more time with patients. That is a win for everyone.
Featured image: Dreamstime
